Mechanical release device.



J. H. EMERY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. ISIS.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES:

IN I/ggf? Q 0% A TTOR/V E Y .l. H. EMERY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5. I916.

Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

A TTOR/VEY "NE COLUMBIA PLANOuR/mrl 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

- inafter described and then more llhlm %TATE% if JAMES HERBERT EMERY,or MORSEMERE, new sunset, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF fro none 13. nMEnY, orMORSEMERE, new JERfSEY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James HERBERT EM- nay, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Morsemere, in the county of Bergen and tate of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MechanicalRelease Devices, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawin z,

My invention refers to an automatic mechanical release device which isadapted to hold certain mechanical parts in a fixed position until acertain pressure is applied thereto or a certain weight thereonincreases to a degree where a releasing effect is essential, and then toautomatically effectuate the release so that the parts of any particularmechanism withwhich the device is used may instantly assume a differentrelation to each other for the performance of the necessary functions ofsaid mechanism.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a simple, efficient,and mechanical automatic release; and it also relates to various detailsand peculiarities in the construction, arrangement and combination ofthe various parts, substantially as will he hereparticularly pointed outin the claims. p

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is aside elevation in partial section of my improved automatic releasedevice. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fi 3 isa perspective viewof the device applied for use in connection with a steam boiler. Fig. 4is a view showing a modified form of the device which adapts it forusewith a water flushing tank having therein a float valve. V

' Similar characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout thedilferent figures of the drawing.

1 denotes ainain frame of any desired pattern or shape, and designed forattachment in any manner at a point where the device is neededto performits functions. In one end of this frame ispivoted by means of the pivot2 a lever 3, preferably of bifurcated form and carrying at its oppositeend some suitable ball or counterbalance 4. The same pivot 2 serves as afulcrum fora horizontal lever 5 situated alongside: ofthe lever 3 andbetween the parallel bifurcated sides thereof, all as clearly shown inFigs. 1

and 2. One end of the lever 5 projects beyond the lever 3 and is adaptedto receive the weight or pressure of a contacting de vice, such as a pinor'arm, an example of which vis indicated at 6, while the opposite endof the lever 5 has a lip 7 that engages the inclined face 8 of a triplever 9 pivoted Patented May a, thin. V

at 10 to the lever 3, and having. at its lower end a catch 11 thatengages a spring finger 12 which is secured in some suitable way to theframe 1, said spring finger at'its upper end being preferably providedwitha small antifriction roller 13 which falls into the notch in thecatch 11, the roller permitting the catch to engage and disengagefreely. l urtherm'ore, the trip lever 9 is pro vided with anupwardly-projecting arm 14;, through which passes a screw rodl havingthereon a set-screw 16 and being provided with a spring 17 whichconnects with an eye 18 fastened to the lever 5. The tension of thespring 17 can, therefore, be easily adjustedby the set-screw 16. Theeffect of the spring 1'? is to draw the trip lever 9 toward the lever 5so that the face 8 will be ver the lip 7 with more or less tension andconsequently will regulate the pressure which the free end of the lever5 is required to overcome in order that it may be depressed sufficientlyto cause the lip 7 to lift the inclined face Sand oscillate the triplever 9 sufficiently to disengage the catch 11 from the spring detent12, the occurrence of which disengagement will obviously allow a furtherpressure on the end of the lever 5 to depress said lever still farther,and lift the lever 3 and trip 9, as also catch 11. The parts arerestored to the position where the catch 11 again engages the finger 12by the weight of the hall or counterbalance 4 at the end of thebifurcated lever 3 when the depressing action on the outer end of lever55 ceases to act.

Assumingthat the parts are in the position shown in'Figs. l and 2 andthat a wei ht, as for instance the weight 6 in Fig. 1 or some otherexample of pressure means is resting on the end of the lever 5, it willbe understood that so 1on as the weight 6 remains the same, the parts ofthe release device will not change their positiombut I if there issuperadded to this device other weights or pressures increasing theponderability, of the same, such increase oflpressure will depress lever5 and when the movement of lever 5 reaches a point where the tension ofthespring is overcome by the action of the lip 7 riding on the inclinedface 8, the trip lever 9 will be turned on its pivot 10 and will pullout .the spring 17 so that the catch 11 will be disengaged and the lever5 will thus be overcome by the pressures represented at 6 so that thedevice 6 will be set free. The catch 11 is preferably formed with arounded end 19 which will easily ride over the roller 13, when thepressure of the part 6 hasbeenrelaxed, so that the catch 11 may bethrustunder the roller 13 by the reaction of the spring 17.

It will be obvious that a device of this kindmay serve for manydifierent kinds of mechanism, and I do not wish to be restricted to anyparticular one. In order that the same maybe more thoroughly understoodand its prlnclples more fully appreciated, I have shown in Fig. 3 howthe d.e--

' vice may be applied to a steam boiler, and

7 be applied.

in Fig. 41 I have indicated a modification in f the construction of thedevice which adapts the same for controlling the closing of the floatvalve in the flush tank of a water closet or other closet combination.It may be said however that these are only two of many examples whichare selected as being helpful in the explanation of a Wide variety ofuses to which the automatic release may Referring now to the case of thesteam boiler as shown in Fig. 3, I will explain the same. "At the top ofthe steam boiler 20 is the usual lever 21 pivoted in the sup-,

port 22 and embraced by the fork 23 which is actuated by the steampressure in the member 2 1-. On one end of the lever 21 is acounterbalance 25, while at the otherv end is attached a' chain 26 whichextends down 'wardly to the draft door atthe bottom of the furnace. Whenthe steam pressure at 24-. rises it will lift the weight 25 and will'corre-' spondingly'lower the chain 6 and close the draft door. Theweight 25 can be adjusted on the lever 21 so as to vary the amount ofpressure required to lift said weight, and consequently close the draft.lVhen the steam pressure reduces, obviously the draft door automaticallyopens and the fire is given a chance to speed up again. In applying myinvention to a device of this kind, I arrange the lever '5 so that itwill occupy the normal position shown in Fig. 1 where the catch 11 isengaged with the detent 12 at a time when the pressure of the steam hasrisen to a predetermined degree as regulated by the position of theWeight 25 and where it is desired to hold the pressure, at which timethe lever 21 rests on the lever 5. Since the steam pressure has risensufficiently to V loosen the chain 26, the draft door will be 0 closedand the steam pressure will be sufficient to keep the lever 21 for thetime being resting upon the lever 5 of the releasing device. Obviouslywhile the draft door remains closed, the lever 21 will rest with anincreasing pressure on the lever 5 as the uplifting pressure of thesteam on the lever 21 decreases. It is found, however, in practice thatin a steam heating system the steam will remain in the radiators withconsiderable pressure and giving forth a large amount of heat for aconsiderable time after the draft has been closed, and consequently thelever 5 will continue in its normal position as shown in Fig. 3 for somelittle time, that is to say the decrease in the pressure of the steamwould not be suiiicient until some time has elapsed to force down thelever 5 far enough to disengage the catch 11; although if the lever 5were not there the lever 21 might be caused to drop by the weight 25 sothat the draft door would begin to open immediately upon the slightestdecrease of pressure, but with my improved device though the steampressure reduces yet it is not until the pipes have cooled a good dealthat the weight of the lever 21 and the counterbalance 25 will be enoughto depress the lever 5, disengage the catch 11, lift lever 3 and trip 9and consequently allow the lever 21 to fall back to a point where thechain 26 will open'the draft door and vigorously renew the draft so thatthe fuel will be again rekindled and combustion greatly increased.Consequently bythese means of checking the otherwise automatic action ofthe steam for a short period, I am enabled to effect a considerablesaving in the fuel used. e V 7 Referring now to Fig. 4 I have thereshown a modification of the invention foreffecting a release of thebuoyant float belonging to a float valve in a flush tank. The weight 4usedwith the arm 3 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2is omitted, and the arm 3 is changed in form, being lever 10 pivoted at11, while the lever 5 is transmuted intothe form'of a lever 27 having arearwardly extending arm 28 which passes beyond the trip lever 9 forsome distance and accordingly performs the same function as the weight4:. The frame 1 is substantially the same as in Fig. 1 and is secured tosome convenient wall, frame, or support. In: levers at 10 is pivoted thetrip lever'9 having the catch 11 which enwater closet or other waterreceiving com:- partment where it is desired to operate such a valve bymeans of a float 35 lying in the water and buoyant therein. This floatis shown at 35 consisting of a buoyant ball which is attached rigidly tothe end of the rod 32. Obviouslythe connection of the rod 32 with theend 31 of the link 30 enables the link 30 when a sufficient pressure isimparted thereto, to lift the lip 7 and trip the lever 9 so as todisengage the catch 11, then lift trip 9, the effect of which will be toallow the valve 33 to be closedby the action of the float 35. The partsare so arranged and related that the valve 33 will discharge water intothe tank 36 and cause a buoyant effect upon the float 35 until suchbuoyancy attains a degree where it will act upon the link 30 anddisengage the trip lever 9 from detent 12 when it will rise instantlyand close the valve so that there may be no further discharge ofwateruntil the valve is again opened. The opening will occur obviouslyas soon as the contents of thetank 36 are discharged,which will allowthe ball 35 to quickly drop and allow the levers 27 and 28 to droplikewise. There is, therefore, a distinct advantage gained in enablingthe tank to. fill more quickly and at any desired height since the valvewill remain wide open until the tank is 3 full and then will quicklyclose, and there will not be the same slow closing and consequentlydecrease in the filling action until the tank is full, which occurs withthe present arrangement where the float 35 rises slowly on the risingwater level and thereby acts gradually on the valve 33. I, therefore,save much water. The operating water level can be made much lower thanusual and still have the rod 32 kept straight. There are numerone otherincidental advantages which will be readily seen. With this constructionof modified form of release device, I employ a similar spring device fortensioning the trip lever 9, though the parts are reversed to correspondto the shape and relation of the mechanical features, such spring partin this case consisting of a spring 37 which is fastened to the upperarm 14 of the trip lever and, is attached to a rod 38 which passesthrough the bent end of the lever 27 and is provided on itsscrew-threaded section with an adjusting nut 39.

Various other modifications may be devised without exceeding the scopeof the invention; also it will be evident that numerous changes in thedetails of the various parts and their operative relation and mechanicalcombination may be made without going outside of the legitimate sphereof the invention, and I, therefore, reserve the liberty of so doing asexperience may find to be desirable.

It will be obvious that the spring 17 may have substituted therefor amechanical equivalent in the form of a weight which can be arranged uponan extension of the trip lever,

as for example as shown in dotted lines 1n Fig. 1, the arm 9 is extendedin the form of the arm 42 carrying an adjustable weight This weightbeing beyond the center 10 of the pivotal point of the trip lever andbeing adjustable may be a fair substitute for the at the end of thesecond lever, and a tension device between the trip lever and said second lever.

2. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted lever, a secondlever pivoted to the first, a trip lever pivoted to the first lever andengaged by the end of the second lever, and an adjustable tension devicebetween the trip lever and said second lever.

3. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted member carrying acounterweight, a lever pivoted on the fulcrum of said member, a triplever pivoted to said member and engaged loosely by the end of saidlever, a tension device between the trip lever and the aforesaid lever,together with a detent normally engaged by the trip lever.

4,. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted lever,'a' secondlever supported on the pivot of the first and having a lip at one end, atrip lever pivoted to the first lever and having an inclined faceengaged by the lip of the second lever and having also a catch and anupwardly extending arm, a tension device between said latter arm and theaforesaid second lever, and a detent normally engaged by the trip lever.

5. In an automatic release device, the combination with a main leverhaving a lip at one end, means for pivotally supporting said lever, atrip lever, means for pivotally supporting it, a tension device attachedto the trip lever and the main lever.

6. In an automatic release device, the combination with a main leverhaving a lip at one end, means for pivotally supporting said lever, atrip lever, means for pivotally supporting it, a tensiondevice attachedto the trip lever and the main lever, and a detent which is normallyengaged by the trip. lever.

7. In an automatic releasing device, the combination with a 'main lever,means for pivotally supporting the same, a trip lever having an inclinedface engaged by the end of the mainlever and having also a catch,tensioning means between the trip lever and the main lever,counterbalancing means for the main lever, and a detent normallyengagjed by the catch.

S. In an automatic releasing device, the combination with a main leverhaving a lip at one end, a supporting lever in which the mainlever ispivoted, said supporting lever being likewise pivotally carried by thesame means, a trip lever pivoted in the supporting lever and having afiat inclined face on which the lip of the main lever rides, said triplever iaving also a catch, and a tension device consisting of a springand a rod provided with an adjusting screw, the same being arrangedbetween the trip lever and the main lever for regulating the pressure atwhich the main lever operates, and counterbalancing means on thesupporting lever.

9. The combination with a pivotedmain lever, of a loosely supported triplever hav ing a fiat inclined face engaged by the end of the main leverand tripped by the movement of said lever, said trip lever having acatch, a spring device between the trip le- 11; In an automaticreleasing device, the

combination with a main lever, means for pivota'ily supporting saidlever, a trip lever pivoted in the main lever, said trip lever being pro*ided with means for regulating the pressure required to trip it, and adetent which is normall engaged by the trip lever;

In testi ture. 7 JAMES HERBERT EMERY.

mony whereof '1 afiiX my signa- Gopies 0! this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,'D. G. v

